Ray Allen News: Pro Sports Daily

Comment

March 11

Boston Globe

"Their lockers right next to each other, Rajon Rondo and Ray Allen sat before last night's game against the Grizzlies at TD Garden still discussing the obvious question from the night before in Milwaukee. Allen, who had hit the game-winning shot in an 86-83 victory over the Wizards Sunday, took only three shots Tuesday against the Bucks in an 86-84 loss. The veteran wasn't lecturing about the situation. And the young point guard wasn't backtalking. "We were just talking basketball,'' Allen said."

Allen moved to speak after very quiet night

Comment

March 10

Boston Globe

"Ray Allen had a difficult time explaining why he attempted only three shots last night against the Bucks. He attributed it to a lack of ball movement, and many times in the 86-84 loss, the ball stopped moving when it got to Paul Pierce. Pierce has struggled from the field of late and he was 2 for 9 in the second half last night, with 9 points and two turnovers. With the Celtics trying to rally late, Pierce went scoreless, missing all four shot attempts, including the potential tying 15-footer at the buzzer. Boston was 7 for 19 from the field in the fourth quarter and it was apparent that the offensive cohesiveness that allowed the Celtics to lead most of the second half had come to a halt."

Ray Allen at home in Milwaukee

Comment

March 10

Boston Herald

"This city has been an acquired taste for many NBA athletes. Kareem Abdul-Jabbar famously couldn't wait to get traded when he played for the Bucks. But Ray Allen looks differently on the place he called home as a rookie, and a place that continues to extend a warm welcome whenever he visits. It's the place where he spent the first 6 seasons of his career, and the Celtics guard has never regretted it. "I look at it as my NBA birthplace," the Celtics guard said before last night's 86-84 loss to the Bucks. "I hold it in high regard."

Allen has been on the money

Comment

March 8

Boston Globe

"Let's fast-forward to this summer, when the Celtics will be extremely limited regarding their free agent options because of a salary cap that could decrease, and the increase in salary for Rajon Rondo. The Celtics will be well over the cap even after Ray Allen's $19.7 million salary comes off the books, roughly $6 million over the current cap of $57.7 million, and all indications are that number will decrease entering the final year of the collective bargaining agreement. A few months ago, re-signing Allen seemed questionable at best because he was struggling mightily. Not only was he missing 3-pointers, he was passing them up when open, a clear indication he had lost his confidence. He ..."

Ray Allen makes it as planned

Comment

March 8

Boston Herald

"Sam Cassell knew it was coming, but the former Celtics player and current Wizards assistant coach could do nothing about it. Trailing by a point, the Celtics broke from a timeout with 27 seconds remaining and were set to inbound the ball in front of Washington's bench. That's when Ray Allen heard his former teammate chirping. "He was trying to talk to me, you know how Sam is," Allen said. "He looked at me and he was like, 'You're getting the ball, you're getting the ball, I know you're getting the ball.' I tried to shrug it off." Despite Cassell's intuition, Mike Miller was powerless to stop the perfectly executed play. After Rajon Rondo took the inbounds pass, Allen drifted through the ..."

Allen, Celtics rout Trail Blazers

Comment

February 20

Boston Globe

"The obvious question after going down to the final seconds Thursday night to defeat the Lakers was how the Celtics would be able to bounce back last night in Portland. Not only had the Trail Blazers made a trade to bring in veteran big man Marcus Camby, but they would also be working Brandon Roy, their franchise player, back into the lineup. There was a stretch of games earlier in the season when Boston lost four straight games on the back end of back-to-backs, a cocktail of injuries, fatigue, and inconsistency leading to the second-day hangover. In last night's 96-76 win - despite playing with a short bench, having Paul Pierce (sprained thumb) be a gametime decision, and hearing at the ..."

Rumors no wrench in Ray Allen's plan

Comment

February 20

Boston Herald

"A gust of wind blew through the Beverly Wilshire hotel on Thursday. It was Ray Allen exhaling as the trade deadline passed. The veteran guard was more than happy when he got on the Celtics' bus to Staples Center rather than into a cab bound for the airport and another NBA home. At this stage of his career and life, location is more important than it used to be. And Allen hasn't hidden his desire to stay with the Celts and perhaps even the organization when his playing days end. "It was different this time," Allen said. "I'm on a team that has a chance to win and I'm in a place I want to be." But because of the fiscal facts of NBA life, he knew he was valued for more than just his jumper. ..."

No deal for Ray Allen?

Comment

February 18

Yahoo! Sports

"Ray Allen has heard his name included in potential trades for Rip Hamilton, Monta Ellis, Kevin Martin, Andre Iguodala and Jason Richardson. He knows he has no control over whether the Boston Celtics send him to another team. He also knows he doesn't want to go. As Thursday's 3 p.m. ET trade deadline approaches, Allen has one hope: He'd like to be starting for the Celtics when they face the Los Angeles Lakers on Thursday. According to multiple team sources, Allen will likely get his wish. While the Celtics have spent the past few weeks exploring their trade options with Allen, they don't expect to move the veteran shooting guard. The team is close to acquiring Nate Robinson from the New ..."

Allen is rested - and relaxed

Comment

February 17

Boston Globe

"On the island paradise of Nassau, in the Bahamas, Celtics guard Ray Allen relished the opportunity to ease his mind as the uncertainty regarding his future intensified in the United States. While Allen was resting during All-Star Weekend, the first time he had not participated in the game in seven years, president of basketball operations Danny Ainge was working the phones trying to improve his sagging team, with Allen's $19.7 million expiring contract an attractive carrot for financially strapped teams seeking salary cap relief next season. Allen focused on relaxation during a rare midseason vacation. He doted on his family, two little boys and a wife who would be just as affected by a ..."

Ray Allen stays cool, calm

Comment

February 17

Boston Herald

"Ray Allen is trying to be cool. OK, Ray Allen is cool. But despite his calm demeanor and smooth rationalizations as tomorrow's NBA trade deadline approaches, you should not be fooled. These will be some anxious hours for Allen. The guard certainly would be professional about it if he does get dealt, but it would hurt him to leave the Celtics. "We won a championship together," Allen said. "This team is, by most accounts, still one of the better teams in the league. When we're right, we're one of the favorites. We still have a great shot. "I just hope we win the next game (last night's contest with the Sacramento Kings) and catch fire and keep pushing forward. The rest of the stuff is out of ..."

Ainge: 'No deals' with the Bobcats or Wizards

Comment

February 13

Boston Globe

"Celtics president of basketball operations Danny Ainge said Friday he has not discussed trades involving the Charlotte Bobcats or Washington Wizards. "There is no truth to either one of those," Ainge said. "I have had conversations with a lot of teams but those have never been discussed. There are a lot of things I would like to do but I don't feel a need to do something. I am always looking to upgrade the team, if possible." Charlotte coach Larry Brown could be interested in the Celtics' Rasheed Wallace, according to a report in the Charlotte Observer. But Ainge said Wallace will not be dealt. Ainge said he does not expect any deals to be concluded until closer to Thursday's trade ..."

Wizards, Celts in swap talks

Comment

February 12

Yahoo! Sports

"In a dramatic move that would resuscitate their fading championship hopes, the Boston Celtics are discussing a deal with the Washington Wizards for forwards Antawn Jamison and Caron Butler(notes), league sources told Yahoo! Sports on Friday. The proposed deal would send the expiring contracts of Ray Allen, Brian Scalabrine and J.R. Giddens to the Wizards, a move that would signal the start of Washington's rebuilding process. The trade isn't imminent, but talks have progressed and Celtics GM Danny Ainge has positioned his organization to make one of the boldest trade deadline moves in years. For the Celtics, ownership would have to agree to take on an additional $24 million in salary next ..."

Allen out with back spasms, Celtics fall to Hornets

Comment

February 11

Boston Herald

"The faces change, but the results are the same. On Sunday they were undressed by Vince Carter and Rashard Lewis. Last night, Peja Stojakovic, Darren Collison and Morris Peterson hovered over the Celtics like a trio of Mardis Gras clowns. Think of every discouraging word or phrase that has been laid on this team during the past month - too old, uninspired, porous, less than advertised, jump shot-happy. The C's had no rebuttal in their 93-85 loss to New Orleans. The lone bright spot was Marquis Daniels, who in his second game back from thumb surgery made up for the absence of Ray Allen, stranded back at the team hotel with back spasms. But had Allen attended, his health would have worsened ..."

Allen a hot topic; Ainge fielding calls on his availability

Comment

February 10

Boston Globe

"As the NBA's Feb. 18 trade deadline approaches and the Celtics continue to show they may not be capable of winning a title as currently constructed, president of basketball operations Danny Ainge is fielding an increasing amount of calls, especially on shooting guard Ray Allen. Allen has an expiring $19.7 million contract that, for the right team, could create a large amount of cap space this summer. According to NBA sources, Ainge is not shopping Allen and he told his veteran guard that much in a conversation last week. But those same sources said Ainge is listening to offers on Allen, whose play has declined this season and whose contract will become increasingly enticing in the next ..."

Trading Ray Allen only hope for C's

Comment

February 9

Boston Herald

columnist Gerry Callahan

"They looked older than Abe Vigoda and sloppier than Patches Kennedy. It was a national TV game against a tough conference rival, with their entire lineup back together on their home floor, and yet the Celtics appeared as disinterested Sunday as Neil Patrick Harris at the Lingerie Bowl. It has been two days now since the most humiliating performance of the Garnett-Pierce-Allen era, so let us not accuse Danny Ainge of being the impetuous type. If he were, he would have taken a flamethrower to his team by the time it reached the locker room after the 96-89 smackdown at the hands of Orlando. If Ainge were inclined to panic, Ray Allen would be traded by now, and Rasheed Wallace would be ..."

Celtics, Allen on trade block

Comment

February 8

CBSSports.com

"Few grand conclusions can be drawn from February NBA games. But in this case, the Celtics' latest disappointing loss only underscored what has been a poorly kept secret among NBA executives for weeks: Ray Allen's time in Boston is likely coming to an end. Thanks to a non-competitive third quarter, the Celtics fell to Orlando 96-89 on Sunday, dropping them to third in the East behind the Cavs and Magic. The struggling Celtics still have three games against Cleveland to prove they haven't fallen from elite status. But after going 1-3 against Orlando and 0-4 against Atlanta, the Celtics have reached a crossroads in their bid to milk one more championship banner out of the Allen-Paul ..."

Rumor mill: Hinrich for Celtics' Allen

Comment

February 4

Chicago Sun-Times

"With the Feb. 18 NBA trading deadline fast approaching, expect to hear quite a few rumors involving the Bulls over the next two weeks. A viable rumor making the rounds Wednesday had the Bulls and Celtics possibly making a deal with Kirk Hinrich and Ray Allen as the principals. The Celtics would move Allen -- who is making $19.8 million in the final year of his contract -- if they can acquire a player who can crack their rotation this season and someone they'd be interested in keeping around for the next couple of years. Hinrich would appear to meet those requirements, but the Bulls might have to sweeten the deal by adding forward Tyrus Thomas, who despite his obvious issues would help ..."

After Ainge talk, Ray Allen's in a good place

Comment

February 4

Boston Herald

"Ray Allen is well aware there are no guarantees in this NBA life. But after he and his wife met Tuesday with Celtics general manager Danny Ainge to discuss trade rumors, he's feeling better about his standing with the Celtics. "Danny just told me, 'Look, I know you guys have been dealing with this over the past couple of weeks,' " Allen said following last night's 107-102 win against the Miami Heat at the Garden. "He was like, 'I haven't made any calls in trying to get you traded. It's always speculation coming from other franchises and other newspaper outlets around the country.' "So anything could happen. For me, I just keep playing basketball. It's not my job to sit here and worry and ..."

Danny Ainge laughs off rumors

Comment

February 2

Boston Herald

"For what it's worth, Danny Ainge seemed genuinely perplexed yesterday at further reports the Celtics are trying to trade Ray Allen. The general manager laughed at a couple of the rumors and was trying to understand how some that have been knocked down from both sides continue to get play. Ainge repeatedly has put off questions about the coming offseason and how much change there could be in the C's roster, but he was pointed with regard to the current campaign. "Let me just put it this way: We're doing everything we can to win a championship now," Ainge said. "We're not going to do anything that might hurt our chances of winning. "There's no question we need to play better, but we're not ..."

Ray Allen wants to stay a Celtic

Comment

January 27

Boston Herald

"His name already has been floated as a trade possibility, but this drill is nothing new for Ray Allen. The Feb. 18 trade deadline accelerates everything at this time of year - perhaps even more than usual this season because of next summer's unprecedented free agent class - and the Celtics [team stats] guard is strapped in for the ride. "I can't say I get worried, because it's not like you say you're getting traded and you have to move to Mars," Allen, a prime candidate because of his expiring max contract, said after yesterday's practice. "I don't look at it like that. I've been there before. I've been in a situation where I expected to be traded and I was traded. If one day I'm traded ..."

Allen's first option to stay in Boston

Comment

January 26

Boston Globe

"For the second time in five years, Ray Allen is pondering his NBA future. He is a free agent at season's end and the first of the Big Three whose future will come up for review by the Celtics organization. Allen is in the final year of a five-year, $85 million deal he signed with Seattle, a career-defining contract consummated during his prime. Allen, 34, is past his prime but remains a productive player who takes immaculate care of his body and could play into his late 30s. The Celtics will have to determine whether Allen should return and because they would own his Larry Bird rights - if he is not dealt by the Feb. 18 trade deadline - are not financially restricted by the salary cap."

Allen's first option to stay in Boston

Comment

January 26

Boston Globe

""I am a loyalty person. If the opportunity presented itself to get a deal at the current moment as we speak, I would be all over it,'' said Allen, who is averaging 15.9 points per game. "So moving forward, I don't have to worry about how the summer is going to go and long term we at least between myself, Kevin [Garnett] and Paul [Pierce], we know we are going to be here, Rasheed [Wallace] and [Rajon] Rondo. You know what the core is going to be.'' The question the Celtics must address is how long they want to ride the Big Three. Pierce has a $21-million player option for next season, then he could become a free agent. Garnett is signed through 2012. If president Danny Ainge wants to go ..."

Now that's a turnaround jumper

Comment

January 23

Boston Globe

"It didn't seem like Ray Allen's night when he airballed a 3-point attempt to start the second half and missed two technical foul shots. Allen was 2 for 13 from the field when the Celtics set him up for what would be the go-ahead 3-pointer in a 98-95 overtime win over the Portland Trail Blazers at TD Garden. "The first half, I missed two layups, so my rhythm wasn't really established early,'' Allen said. "Then, when the ball was coming my way it still looked good, it felt good when it left my hand, it just was not going in for me. "It was frustrating but I was still thinking about the next shot. Free throws were what was really weird for me - because they were on line but they were long. It ..."

Miss-and-hit night for Ray Allen

Comment

January 23

Boston Herald

"Ray Allen has gone cold before, even if last night's nine-point, 3-for-14, game-winning performance during the Celtics' 98-95 overtime win over Portland was one of his strangest in memory. What especially caught Allen's attention was his 2-for-4 performance from the free throw line - both misses coming while shooting technical foul shots, each off a defensive three-second violation by the Blazers. "What was interesting was I didn't take any shots in the first half - I missed two layups - so my rhythm wasn't established early," he said. "Still, it looked good and felt good when it left my hand. It was frustrating, but I kept thinking about the next shot. The free throws were really ..."

Allen helps Celtics top Raptors 103-96

Comment

January 3

Toronto Star

"It was a game of determination and grit, of toughness and imposing one's will on an opponent. That the Raptors came up lacking in those critical characteristics really shouldn't be surprising. It is historically like that when they face the Boston Celtics and even a depleted team missing three starters still had enough of the swagger and physicality that sets it apart from all but a handful of the best teams in the NBA. With Paul Pierce, Kevin Garnett and Rajon Rondo all out with injuries, the Celtics maintained their mastery of the Raptors with a 103-96 victory at the TD Garden here Saturday night that said much more about Toronto than it did Boston."

Celtics' win easy as 1-2-3

Comment

January 3

Boston Globe

"The plan was to turn algebra into ordinary arithmetic. There were too many new players in too many new roles. J.R. Giddens, who was making his first NBA start, was swinging between shooting guard and small forward. Tony Allen, who returned to the lineup in mid-December, suddenly had to man the point guard and small forward spots. Ray Allen, the lone member of the Big Three who was injury-free, had to learn the small forward spots and take over some of the duties of bringing the ball up the court. In order to make everything run smoothly and snap a three-game losing streak, Celtics coach Doc Rivers came up with one mantra: Simplify everything. And in every timeout during the Celtics' 103-96 ..."

Allen on pace to break Miller's mark for 3s

Comment

December 23

Indianapolis Star

"Reggie Miller said there was one player he thought could surpass his record for career 3-pointers: Boston Celtics guard Ray Allen. Allen should break Miller's NBA record of 2,560 3-pointers next season barring significant injury. Allen made two 3-pointers in Tuesday night's 103-94 victory over the Indiana Pacers, giving him 2,346 3s during his 14-year career. He makes an average of 176 per season. "Being a shooter in this league, being one of the best shooters in this league, I believe that when you speak about him, you have to speak about me," Allen said before the game. "That's not because I want people to; it's just statistically driven.""

Ray Allen provides Answer

Comment

December 19

Boston Herald

"Allen Iverson, whose attempt to revive his game and reputation is moving at a crawl, didn't make the trip for the Sixers' 98-97 win against the Celtics last night at TD Garden due to injuries. But Ray Allen has a good idea of what the star-crossed guard is going through - at least in terms of shedding that thick coat of rust. "The names that come to my mind are P.J. Brown and Stephon Marbury," Allen said of two players - Brown in the second half of the 2007-08 season and Marbury during the same stretch last year - who attempted to play themselves back into shape with the C's after lengthy absences. "The one sentiment they all had when they came back was, 'I'm out of shape and I have to get ..."

High five sought for All-Stars

Comment

December 18

Boston Herald

"There are many quality guards in the Eastern Conference, and now that sentimental favorite Shaquille O'Neal is with Cleveland, the competition for an All-Star spot at center is thick as well. But in the biased view of their teammates and coaches, Rajon Rondo and Kendrick Perkins are as worthy of a trip to Arlington, Texas, for the Feb. 14 game as Kevin Garnett, Paul Pierce and Ray Allen. "Our starting five should go," coach Doc Rivers said after yesterday's practice. Funny how that sentiment has spread. "He means so much to this club," Pierce said of Rondo. "But our starting five should be in the All-Star Game." As for Perkins, Pierce added: "But you've seen it coming. He's showing ya'll ..."

Ray Allen's late 3 helps tune out Memphis

Comment

December 15

Boston Herald

"The blues were pouring out of the joints just steps away on Beale Street, but the Green could find no reason to feel down. Not with 11 straight victories, an NBA-best 20-4 record and a flight home after playing seven of their last eight on the road. The Celtics made all the key plays down the stretch - those that were drawn up and those that were broken - to emerge with a 110-105 win last night against the better-than-you-think Grizzlies. The Celts received 19 points from Paul Pierce and 18 apiece from Ray Allen and Rajon Rondo. They didn't trail in the fourth quarter but weren't allowed to feel even a little comfortable until Allen picked up the pieces of a busted play and barely beat the ..."

Celtics' Ray Allen copes with time away

Comment

December 13

Boston Herald

"Playing on a contender means the networks won't let you alone, which in turn guarantees you'll be playing on Christmas or Thanksgiving - maybe even both, as the Orlando Magic discovered when this season's schedule was announced. The Celtics have served that call for the last three years, and for the second straight season they will kick off a long road trip with a game on Christmas Day - last year in Los Angeles, this time in Orlando, Fla. Leaving family behind for the holidays is part of the NBA drill. But when you're Ray Allen and your diabetic son isn't that far removed from hospitalization following a Thanksgiving night emergency, the time away gets a little harder to tolerate. "The ..."

Ray Allen, Paul Pierce hit milestones

Comment

December 11

Boston Herald

"It was a night of milestones in a city full of monuments. Ray Allen had 18 points to pass the career 20,000 mark by four. Paul Pierce had 12 to pass the 19,000 plateau by two. And - oh, yeah - the Celtics won their ninth straight game, taking a 104-102 measure of the Wizards. Apparently the crew from the capital didn't like sitting idly by as the Celts gathered their milestones. So they tied an NBA record by getting not a single individual rebound in the second quarter. Doc Rivers has been chastising his lads about their boardwork, and from the looks of the second period, the message got across. The Celts helped themselves - and hurt the Wizards - by hitting 12-of-16 shots and tracking ..."

Celtics' Allen on verge of 20,000-point club

Comment

December 10

Boston Globe

"Good guys can finish first, indeed. Ray Allen needs 14 points to reach 20,000 and could get them tonight in Washington against the Wizards. Allen would become the 37th player to reach that milestone in a career that has had its share of adversity. Three seasons ago, Allen had surgeries to remove bone spurs from both ankles. It seems that Allen, who follows a strict diet and played at a lighter weight in his ninth season than in his rookie year, had encountered his downfall - faulty ankles. The man who depended on lift to drain 3-pointers was relegated to crutches for several weeks. As soon as he was allowed to work out, Allen was running sprints on a practice court, preparing himself for a ..."

Allen gets defensive

Comment

December 8

Boston Globe

"Offensively, Ray Allen is enduring a subpar season. After seemingly snapping out of his 3-point slump by canning five Dec. 1 at Charlotte, he has missed 7 of 8 the last two games. In years past, when Allen's focus was scoring and stretching the floor, his impact would have been limited. This season, however, Allen is finding alternative ways to contribute, such as defensively, where he has made an impact during the Celtics' seven-game winning streak. Friday against Oklahoma City's James Harden, a rookie 14 years his junior, Allen was brilliant defensively. He forced the lefthanded scoring ace into 1-for-6 shooting and just 6 points in 23 minutes."

Allen on target as well-oiled Celtics thump Bobcats

Comment

December 2

Boston Globe

"Ray Allen shook off a month of uncertainty about his perimeter game and returned to form last night against the Bobcats. After jokingly pondering whether every NBA rim needed to be oiled, Allen flicked his 3-pointer with confidence, canning a season-high-tying five as the Celtics enjoyed a laugher. An anticipated rugged matchup against a streaking Charlotte club never materialized as the Celtics raced to an early double-digit lead and cruised to a 108-90 win at Time Warner Cable Arena. Allen finished with a season-high 27 points and drained four first-half 3-pointers after going 10 for 41 from behind the arc in his previous 10 games."

Ray Allen-led Celtics shoot straight

Comment

December 2

Boston Herald

"Back on Oct. 28, before Charlotte had Stephen Jackson, the Bobcats had absolutely nothing on their side. The Celtics, in their home opener, limited Charlotte to a truly embarrassing low of 59 points at the Garden. Jackson, acquired in a trade seven games ago, was supposed to change that for the Bobcats. Charlotte, which came into last night on a four-game win streak, was facing a C's team that wasn't playing up to its record, despite its own four-game run. The best that could be said for the Bobcats in Game 2 of the season series was that they hit 90. Jackson, who arrived from the Golden State Warriors, shot 4-for-13 from the field, and the team with the shakier streak looked better than ..."

A tough position for guard

Comment

November 30

Boston Globe

"Walker Allen is proving to be as tough as his father. The younger Allen, son of Celtics guard Ray Allen, was released from a Boston-area hospital yesterday after being admitted for nausea during Thanksgiving weekend. Walker, 2, suffers from childhood diabetes and took ill Thanksgiving night, when he began vomiting. Ray Allen said Walker was taken to the hospital and then returned home, only to suffer more nausea and a lowering of blood sugar. Ray Allen missed practice Saturday but met his teammates at the plane later in the day for the flight to Miami."

Ray Allen back with Celtics

Comment

November 29

Boston Herald

"The Celtics were relieved when Ray Allen boarded their 3 p.m. flight to Miami yesterday. Allen left the court - and the arena - in the fourth quarter Friday to be with son Walker, who had been hospitalized. Walker has diabetes. Allen and his family were dealing with treatment questions yesterday, but things were apparently under control enough that Allen was able to join his teammates on the flight. And with a trip that includes stops in Miami, Charlotte, San Antonio and Oklahoma City, the Celts need all the help they can get. "It's an important trip because it's four good teams," said coach Doc Rivers, who was uncertain immediately after yesterday's session whether Allen would travel. ..."

Age-old question

Comment

November 27

Boston Globe

"The report of the sudden retirement of Allen Iverson sent a reality shock through the older Celtics. Kevin Garnett, Paul Pierce, Ray Allen, and Rasheed Wallace are from the same NBA generation as Iverson. All of them entered the league in the mid-to-late 1990s, played against each other, and hung out at All-Star Weekend. Some members of the Big Three began to contemplate their NBA mortality, including Allen, 34, who endured double ankle surgery two years ago and erased doubts as to whether his career as an All-Star-caliber player was done."

Live by the three, die by the ...

Comment

November 22

Boston Globe

"The Celtics lost 83-78 to the Orlando Magic on Friday, and Boston finished a putrid 2 for 19 from the three-point stripe, including 0 for 8 from Rasheed Wallace, 0 for 4 from Paul Pierce and 1 for 4 from Eddie House. The Celtics are living -- and dying -- by the three-point shot, and it has becoming apparent that Boston can't win if it doesn't shoot the three-pointer effectively. The Celtics should be able to win without always canning three's, but the numbers show they don't, and that could become a major concern as the season progresses."

Celtics stars pull out all the steps

Comment

November 22

Boston Herald

"Boston Celtics good guy Ray Allen threw a rockin' benefit bash at Lansdowne Pub the other night, where teammates Rasheed Wallace and Glen "Big Baby" Davis busted out their dance moves! During wife Shannon's set with the Elan Trotman Band, she called out for the Celtics to show their "off-the-court moves" to Luther Vandross' 1981 hit "Never Too Much." We hear 'Sheed complied and then the crowd began chanting for Baby, who even Kevin Garnett has admitted to us is the Green Team's hottest hoofer. Watch out, Gino! Shannon also got up and did three songs, including Alicia Keys' "No One" and "Just Like a Pill" by Pink with French Lick, Celtics owner Wyc Grousbeck's band."

Celtics man up for win

Comment

November 19

Boston Globe

"This was a blowout that did not seem like a blowout. The score - the Celtics defeated the Golden State Warriors last night, 109-95 - indicates a comfortable margin of victory. But the Celtics never appeared to be completely certain of themselves, only briefly able to assert their dominance over a team that was concluding a five-game road trip with eight available players, including Raja Bell, who is scheduled for surgery on his left wrist. "That team scares the hell out of you,'' said Celtics coach Doc Rivers. "You want to sub your guys out with five minutes left and you're worried about them making a 20-0 run in two seconds.''"

Ray Allen sneaks up on John Stockton

Comment

October 31

Boston Herald

"Ray Allen swears he didn't know he'd passed John Stockton for 33rd on the NBA's all-time scoring list, but he found out in a very loud way. With 3:38 to go in last night's game and the Celtics starters enjoying another fourth-quarter siesta, the announcement was made at the end of a timeout. Allen's 20 points in the Celtics' 118-90 busting of the Bulls brought him to 19,715 for his career, four more than the Utah great. Next on the list is Tom Chambers at 20,049. "I had no idea," said Allen. "It definitely is a great feeling. Stockton played, what, 18, 19 years? He's a Hall of Famer. I watched his induction. To be able to be in that company, you think about all the years, all the shots ..."

Ray Allen suffers minor eye injury

Comment

October 25

Boston Globe

"At first, Doc Rivers thought Ray Allen was playing around. It was a run-of-the-mill handoff drill. Allen was supposed to take the ball from Kendrick Perkins. Next thing Rivers knew, Allen was on the ground grabbing his eye. "It was a post pass and cut,'' Rivers said. "Perk was supposed to hand off low and Perk was going to fake it and go high. Unfortunately, he did it too late. "You couldn't see it, then all of a sudden he's laying down. Then you saw the blood and you're saying, 'Oh no, I don't think he's faking.' ''"

Ray Allen takes stitches

Comment

October 24

Boston Globe

"Celtics guard Ray Allen missed part of Saturday afternoon's practice after a Kendrick Perkins elbow caused a cut over his eye. Allen was taken for stitches at the team's Health Point facility in Waltham. Allen's status for the Celtics' season-opening visit to Cleveland has not been determined. Coach Doc Rivers described the clash as an accident, since both Allen and Perkins were playing together, during a "skeleton" drill, which does not include a defending team."

Easy going into season

Comment

October 17

Boston Herald

"Doc Rivers has mapped out the Celtics [team stats]' plan for the final three preseason games, and the forecast for the finale in Columbus, Ohio, isn't for a starry night. The people at Tsongas Arena for last night's open practice got to see more of the regulars than will be on display Wednesday against the Cavaliers at Ohio State's arena. "They're going to play Sunday and Tuesday," Rivers said of games at Toronto and New York. "None of them are playing on Wednesday, I can tell you that now. Very few of them will play on Wednesday." The reason is twofold: He doesn't want anything strange happening in the last exhibition, and the Cavs are on tap in Cleveland when the real games start. "It's ..."

Celtics' Ray Allen tunes out extension talk

Comment

October 5

Boston Herald

"Ray Allen insists he's living in the moment. So if the possibility of being a free agent seems a season away to him, it's only because, well, it is. At 34, the Celtics guard is making certain to cherish the present. "It's interesting how I approach training camp as an older man in relation to my career," Allen said. "I think Kevin (Garnett) takes the same mindset and Paul (Pierce) has the same mindset. We get in here and it's like you're on borrowed time. We've all done this a long time and we really enjoy this more now than we ever did. Being able to be here and compete for what this team is playing for, that's pretty special." And that's why, though Allen would prefer to get a contract ..."

It all sounds good now

Comment

September 29

Boston Globe

"A year ago, the Celtics were fielding questions about replacing departed players such as James Posey. At yesterday's media day, the answers to the Celtics' questions - and to their prayers - were standing on the practice facility court in person. Newcomers Marquis Daniels, Rasheed Wallace, and Shelden Williams add veteran depth and versatility to the roster. And Wallace provides not just another major player but also another voice - a loud one. His ability to communicate will raise not only the team's level of defending, but also the volume, according to coach Doc Rivers. "He is going to stretch the floor for us,'' Rivers said of Wallace. "He's going to give us another post player. ..."

Green's familiar to Ray Allen

Comment

September 4

Boston Herald

"Potentially bad news for Celtics [team stats] fans: Ray Allen looked very good in yesterday's Deutsche Bank Championship pro-am. Finishing up on No. 9, he drove it long on the dogleg left and hit his second shot long and left of the green. The All-Star guard then got up and down nicely from the fescue for par. That left Allen about 6-over-par by his account. And it begged the question: If his golf game is this good, how badly has he been ignoring basketball this offseason? He laughed and deflected the implication. Allen has worked hard on his game and is very much looking forward to training camp after a break that was longer than the Celtics would have liked. "The beautiful thing about ..."

Presti made right call on Ray Allen, Rashard Lewis

Comment

June 9

The Oklahoman

"Ray Allen became a champion nearly one year to the date after general manager Sam Presti traded him from Seattle to Boston. Rashard Lewis, nearly two years after Presti agreed to a sign-and-trade that sent him to Orlando, is now a handful of wins from helping the Magic hoist that same gold championship ball. The successes of the former franchise cornerstones has made it easy for some to waive the "I-told-you-so" finger at Presti and team chairman Clay Bennett, who were accused of gutting the team with the intent to create fan apathy and split for Oklahoma City.Former Sonics vice chairman Lenny Wilkens told the Seattle Times last week he urged Bennett to not dismantle the team. Wilkens ..."